computer drone

7 responses so far ↓

• 1    Charles Farnsworth // Sep 18, 2005 at 11:19 pm

  I read the Newsday.com article and was very saddened to see these fairly rampant examples of cyberbullying using blogs posted for that purpose. It seems to me that it is far to easy to blame the technology. I have many times witnessed this type of “anonymous” activity with and without the use of computer technology in settings where the faculty believed that we had codes of conduct in place to prevent this behavior. I feel at a loss to offer an effective strategy of prevention.

• 2    Administrator // Sep 18, 2005 at 11:32 pm

  I agree that cyberbullying is not limited to blogs, Chuck. However, this seemingly wisespread practice upsets me for many reasons. It speaks to a decline in morals/values of the teenagers involved, for starters.

  As a field, we will need to address these issues of prevention before we can use the tools as part of our practice.

  In the past, one student could write a flaming message about another student on a piece of paper, or in a notebook… and it was seen by a handful of students. Now, the Internet has made our world smaller and given more people access to it.

  Do I see a connection between this issue and nuclear technology… which can be used for great benefit to mankind… or great destruction.

• 3    Nate // Sep 19, 2005 at 1:44 am

  There is a huge interest in CyberBullying right now — notably coming from a very vocal group that I’ve run into on the WWWEDU listserv. The favored approach is not on blogs, tho, but IM and SMS where the target is hounded until they’re forced to leave — or create a new identity — to avoid the persecution.

  The problem is that schools are trying to “control” bullies instead of helping targets learn how to deal with the bullying.

  I can tell you, as a past target of very-non-cyber bullies — the athletes, the popular, and the “cool” kids, the “good” kids — from almost 40 years ago, this is not a new problem, nor is a problem that schools have been able to deal with in Meatspace … let alone online … and I don’t think they’ll be able to deal with it until they start working with the victims and stop trying to control the bullies.

  Just my opinion.

• 4    Administrator // Sep 21, 2005 at 12:05 am

  I disagree with you. A victim of bullying should not have to accept or “learn to deal” with bullying any more than a victim of rape should have to accept or deal with this violation of self. A victim is a victim, irregardless of the circumstances.

  I agree with you that the objective should not be to “control the bullies” but they should be held accountable for their actions with appropriate consequences.

  Students have the right to attend school in a non-threatening environment.

• 5    Nate // Sep 21, 2005 at 2:05 am

  You mis-understand my use of the phrase “deal with” … I’m not talking about dealing with the effect of the bullying or dealing with accepting the bullying.

  I was suggesting that they deal with the bully directly before more damage is done.

• 6    Loana Mason // Sep 26, 2005 at 2:25 pm

  While reading about cyberbullying, I was reminded of the old Slam Books used at slumber parties. These books had categories (some positive-most negative), and the collective group elected a winner for such category. Not all that different than the yearbook categories (Class Clown, Most Likely to Succeed, etc.) However, Slam Books seemed to have very limited circulation. It is scary how widespread an internet message can be.

  I, too, have been the victim of bullying as a result of my visual impairment. It used to enrage me that I was the one expected to deal with it while the sighted adults made excuses for such behavior. For example, on the way home from school, a classmate used to throw rocks at me. One day in frustration I asked him why he hated me. He replied that he was trying to make my eyes stop wiggling. When I explained to him that my vision did not shake, and thus, I was not bothered, he stopped. Hence, my point is that I absolutely, unequivocally thinkt hat bullying is wrong. Furthermore, I think that the responsibility for stopping bullying needs to be placed on the bully. However, victims of bullying definitely need to learn how to deal with it and self-advocate because kids are not the worst bullies I have had to deal with. Unfortunately, the worst ones have sometimes been fellow teachers of students with visual impairments.

• 7    Administrator // Sep 30, 2005 at 1:02 am

  Thank you for your comments, Loana. In a perfect world, all people would treat eachother with kindness and respect. Children can be cruel. As you have explained, so can adults. Wonder what ever happened to the Golden Rule…